Apparatus for washing clothes with an oscillatable agitator



Dec, 33, W49 T. E. D. BILDE APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES WITH AN OSGILLATABLE AGITATOR Filed June 30 1944 INVENTOR.

Patented 13, 1949 APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES AN OSCILLATABLE AGITATOR Tord Erik Daniel Bilde, Stockholm, Sweden, as-

signor to Aktlebolaget Elektrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Application June 30, 1944, Serial No. 542,885 In Sweden November 9, 1939 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1948 Patent expires November 9, 1959 My invention relates to apparatus for washing clothes with the aid of an oscillatable agitator.

In washing clothes in a body of washing fluid in a receptacle or vat of a washing machine by mechanical action, it is desirable for all of the clothes to be subjected to the same thorough cleansing and washing action. When such washing action is effected by an agitator or stirrer oscillatable in the receptacle or vat, the washing action is accomplished b intermittent coinpression and loosening of clothes which are alternately acted upon at opposite faces or sides of the agitator element.

In washing machines of the oscillatable agitator type generally employed heretofore, the clothes initially placed in the receptable and coming to rest at the immediate vicinity of the agitator are subsequently vigorously acted upon by the latter when the washing operation is instigated, while the clothes initial-1y placed in the receptacle and coming to rest at regions some distance from the agitator, as at the regions adjacent to the walls, for example, are subjected to a less thorough washing action due to the moderation of the movements imparted to the clothes by the thrusts of the agitator.

In order to compensate for the fact that some of the clothes initially placed in the receptacle come to rest at regions of the receptacle some distance from the agitator, it is necessary to prolong the washing period to effect thorough cleansing and washing of all the clothes. This is objectionable because some of the clothes are acted upon by the agitator for a longer period of time than actually necessary, thereby subjecting such clothes to excessive wear and deterioration. Moreover, prolonging the washing period to insure thorough and uniform cleansing and washing of all of the clothes requires an expenditure of a greater amount of power and energy and increases the length of time necessary to wash and cleanse the clothes.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved apparatus for washing clothes with the aid of an oscillatable agitator, particularly to effect a more efficient and uniform washing of v the clothes. Another object of the invention is to improve 11 Claims. (Cl. 68-431) the operation of washing apparatus of this-type by placing the oscillatable agitator in a washing.

position with respect to the body of washing fluid in, such manner that the clothes circulate in a path of movement inwhich the clothes are more orless uniformly and repeatedly acted upon by theagitator.

In accordance with the invention. efllcient and uniform cleansing and washing of the clothes is accomplished by placing the agitator in a washing position in the receptacle with the axls of oscillation thereof removed and separated from the vertical axis of the body of washing fluid. The agitator oscillates back and forth through an arc and is provided with an elongated blade or vane which extends lengthwise of the axis of oscillation. The blade during its oscillation passes through a region of the body of washing fluid that blade surface at one face thereof and a generally.

convex-shaped blade surface at the opposite face thereof, the outer freeedge portion of the blade being directed in the direction the clothes move from one side to the opposite side of the blade past the outer edge thereof.

The invention, togetherv with the above and other objects and advantages thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of apparatus for washing clothes embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the clothes washing apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the clothes washing apparatus embodying the invention comprises a vat or receptacle I I! for holding a body of washing fluid. The receptacle I0 is formed with a flat bottom l5 and an upstanding side wall at the upper peripheral edge of which may be provided an outwardly extending flanged member I: for positioning the receptacle in an opening in a suitable supporting surface, such as, for example,

a scullery sink. At the top peripheral edge of the side wall is-also provided an inwardly extending I acover H' is supported to prevent spilling of I washing fluid. Whenthe receptacle is supported. in anopening in a supporting surface, it will. be

seen that the cover II is in the same plane as the supporting surface. The cover ii is provided with a pivotally mounted handle It which may be formed of material of poor heat conductivity.

Above and spaced from the bottom I! of the receptacle I is provided a plate or partition it formed with apertures ll therein. The plate It serves as the actual bottom for the space in which the clothes to be washed are circulated and is secured in any suitable manner to the side wall. While the clothes are held in the space above the plate or partition It, the washing fluid, which may be water or lye. for example, can circulate between the spaces above and below the plate ll through the apertures ll therein.

A driving unit I! for operating the clothes washing apparatus, which may be of any suitable type, is diagrammatically shown positioned on a ledge formed at one side of the receptacle III. In the space between the plate It and the bottom I5 is located suitable mechanism for operatively connecting the driving unit it and an agitator IQ for oscillating the latter.

In accordance with the invention, the agitator I9 is mounted in the receptacle ill for oscillation therein about a horizontally disposed axis located at the plate IS. The agitator l9 comprises an elongated blade 2| extending lengthwise of the axis of oscillation and across'a major portion of the distance between opposing side walls of the receptacle l0. As-shown, the agitator is in transverse section is asymmetrical with respect to its axis of oscillation 20, the blade 2| being of such shape and so disposed on the agitator that circulation of clothes is effected in the manner to be described presently. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 the blade 2| is curved so as .to define a concave-shaped blade surface 22 at one face thereof and a convex-shaped blade surface 23 at the opposite face thereof. Although not to be limited thereto, the blade 2| preferably is arranged to move through an are which is greater than 90 but not substantially more than 120.

During a washing operation in which the receptacle Ill contains a body of washing fluid and the clothes to be washed, a general movement of the clothes takes place from the right to the left in one direction past the outer free edge 24 of the blade 2|. The oscillatory movement of the blade 2| lifts and presses down the clothes, thereby alternately compressing and loosening the clothes and effecting a washing action. When the blade 2| moves to the left in Fig. 1 and through a suitable angle from the vertical position illustrated, the clothes upon which the concave-shaped blade surface 22 acts are moved to the left. When the blade 2| moves in the opposite direction and to the right in Fig. 1, there is an initial tendency for the clothes in the path of movement to be moved slightly toward the right. However, as the blade 2| continues to move toward the right in Fig. l, the clothes slide of! the convex-shaped blade surface 23 at the outer free edge 24 of the blade.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and just described, the sliding movement of the clothes off the convex-shaped blade surface 23 is promoted by forming such blade surface so that it is softly bent and perfectly smooth and terminates at the round free outer edge 24. Stated another way, the convex-shaped blade surface 23 is more or less streamlined in character and without projections of any kind. so that any tendency for the clothes to stick and hold fast to the blade surface 23 is avoided.

In addition, the sliding movement of the clothes off the convex-shaped blade surface 23 is promoted by joining the blade 2| directly to the axis forming region of the agitator It to provide a smooth surface or passage at 25, as shown in Fig. 1. Hence, after the initial slight movement of the clothes to the right in Fig. 1. when the" convex-shaped blade surface 23 is the leading face of the blade 2| during alternate strokes of its oscillatory'movement, the clothes in the path of movement of the blade will readily and easily slide oi! the convex-shaped blade surface 23 at the free outer edge 24 of the blade.

- In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that an unobstructed space is provided beyond and above the free outer edge 24 of the blade 2| to enable the clothes to slide of! the invention in which parts similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are referrred to by the same reference numerals. The embodiment in Fig. 3

differs from the embodiment just described in that a plurality of agitators 2| are provided which are vertically disposed at diametrically opposite sides of the receptacle III at regions nearer to the side walls than to the vertical axis of the receptacle. In this arrangement the axis of oscillation 20 of each of the vertically disposed blades 2| is closely adjacent to a vertical bounding surface of the body of washing fluid adapted to be held in the receptacle, while in Fig. 1 the axis of oscillation 20 of the horizontally disposed blade 2| is at the bottom bounding surface of the body of washing fluid during a washing operation.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the blades 2| at opposite sides of the receptacle iii are reversed with respect to one another. As shown, the concave-shaped blade surface 22 of the right-hand blade is at the front side while the convex-shaped blade surface 23 of the left-hand blade is at the front side. The circulation of clothes in the embodiment of Fig; 3 takes place in the same manner as previously explained in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the movement of the clothes taking place from the rear to the front side of the right-hand blade 2| and from the front to the rear side of the left-hand blade 2|. Hence, circulation of th clothes takes place in the embodiment of Fig. 3 in such a manner that the clothes move in the receptacle in one direction past the free outer edges 24 of both blades during their oscillatory movement. In this movement the clothes pass from the front side or face 22 of the right-hand blade 2| to the front side or face 23 of the left-hand blade 2|, and the clothes pass from the rear side or face of the lefthand blade to the rear side or face of the righthand blade.

In both of the embodiments described above, it will be evident that each agitator I9 is placed in a washing position with its axis of oscillation 2|! alongside of or adjacent to a bounding surface of a body of washing fluid of such size that the blade 2| associated therewith extends across a major portion of a dimension of the bounding surface. Each agitator I9 is oscillated back and forth through an arc in which the blade 2| thereof is adapted to pass through a region of the body of fluid which is otherwise unobstructed, in

a direction extending inwardly from the bounding surface adjacent thereto, for a suflicient distance to provide adequate space to enable clothes to slide oif its convex-shaped blade surface 23 into the space and permit the blade to complete its backward strokes past theclothes. In this way circulation of the clothes is promoted past the outer free edge of each blade 2| in one direction from one side to the opposite side of the blade.

It will also be observed that in both of the embodiments described the axis of oscillation of each agitator I9 is removed from the center region of the receptacle I 0 and of the body of washing fluid adapted to be held therein. Moreover, each agitator I9 is oscillated through an arc in a region of the body of washing fluid which is otherwise unobstructed, in a direction extending through and beyond such region from the axis of oscillation 20, for a sufficient distance to provide adequate space to enable the clothes to pass in one direction over the free outer edge 24 of the blade. Also, the agitators l9 in both embodiments are mounted in the receptacles I0 so that the outer free edges 24 of the blades 2|, during their oscillatory movement, pass through regions nearer to the centers of the receptacles than the axes 20 about which the agitators l9 oscillate.

The agitators l9 illustrated are generally alike in that each is formed of an integral body of material having curved vane forming regions 2| which are unsymmetrically disposed with respect to the axis of oscillation 20. Each agitator body is formed with an elongated hub or axis forming region at 20 from the immediate vicinity of which the vane forming regions project laterally. In the preferred embodiments illustrated the vane forming regions of each agitator body are imperforate and merge with the hub portion or axis forming region.

In view of the foregoing it will now be understood that an improvement has been provided for washing clothes with an oscillatable agitator whereby efiicient and uniform washing of the clothes is accomplished. In the foregoing description and in the claims it is to be understood that the term clothes is intended to include not only wearing apparel but other textile fabrics or materials which require washing.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departin from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, in apparatus for washing clothes in which receptacles or vats of large size are employed, several agitators l9 may be 'arranged alongside one another. Moreover, it may be desirable in certain instances to mount the agitator in the receptacle so that the axis of oscillation 20 is slightly inclined to the horizontal instead of being horizontally disposed, as shown in Fig. 1. It is therefore contemplated to cover all modifications and changes which come within the spirit of the invention, as pointed out in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine, the combination of a receptacle for washing fluid and the clothes to be washed, an oscillatable agitator including a blade which is bent in transverse section and extends lengthwise of the axis about which said agitator oscillates, mechanism for oscillating said agitator, said blade having an outer free edge portion removed from said axis, said agitator being mounted for oscillation in the receptacle so that the outer free edge portion of said blade during its oscillatory movement passes through pass, and said blade being of such shape and so' disposed on said agitator that it promotes circulation of the clothes in one direction past the outer free edge portion of said blade from one side tothe opposite side thereof during its oscillatory movement.-

2. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which the said receptacle comprises a bottom and an upstanding side wall and said agitator is mounted in said receptacle for osc llation about an axis which is vertically disposed and nearer to the side wall than to the vertical axis of the receptacle, said blade projecting toward the center of the receptacle during its oscillatory m'bvement.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a receptacle for washing fluid and the clothes to be washed, an oscillatable agitator inculding a blade which extends lengthwise of the axis about which said agitator oscillates, mechanism for oscillating said agitator,'said blade having an outer free slide toward the outer free edge portion of said blade when the convex-shaped blade surface is the leading face of said blade during its oscillatory movement, and said agitator being mounted for oscillation in said receptable so that the outer free edge portion of said blade during its oscillatory movement passes through regions nearer to the center of the receptacle than said axis and an un-' obstructed space is provided beyond the outer free edge portion of said blade to enable clothes in the path of movement of said blade, when the convex-shaped blade surface is the leadin face of said blade during alternate strokes of its oscillatory movement, to slide off said convex-shaped blade surface into the space at the outer free edge portion of said blade and allow the latter to complete such alternate strokes past the clothes, thereby promoting circulation of the clothes in one direction past the outer free edge portion of said blade from one side to the opposite side thereof during its oscillatory movement.

4. In a washing machine, the combination of a receptacle for washing fluid and the clothes to be washed, an agitator comprising blade forming means oscillatable about an axis which does not coincide with and is removed from the vertical center line of the receptacle, mechanism for 05-,

cillating said agitator, said blade forming means extending along a major portion of a dimension of the receptacle in the direction of said axis and having an outer free edge portion removed from said axis, said blade forming means in different cross sections transverse to said axis being formed so as to define a generally concave-shaped surface at one face thereof for moving the clothes when such concave-shaped surface is the leading face of said blade forming means during oscillatory movement thereof and to define a convexshaped surface at the opposite face thereof over which clothes tend to slide toward the outer free edge portion of said blade forming means when such convex-shaped surface is the leading face of said blade forming means during oscillatory movement thereof, and said agitator being mounted in said receptacle for oscillation therein to provide an unobstructed space beyond the outer free edge portion of said blade forming means to enable clothes in the path of movement thereof, when the convex-shaped surface is the leading face of said blade forming means during alternate strokes of its oscillatory movement, to slide off said convex-shaped surface into the space at the outer free edge portion of said blade formin means and allow the latter to complete such alternate strokes past the clothes, thereby promoting circulation of the clothes in one direction past the outer free edge portion of said blade forming means from one side to the opposite side thereof during its oscillatory movement.

5. In a washing machine, the combination of a receptacle for washing fluid and the clothes to be washed, an oscillatable agitator including a blade which is bent in transverse section and extends lengthwise of the axis about which said agitator oscillates, mechanism for oscillating said agitator, said blade having an outer free edge portion removed from said axis, said agitator being mounted for oscillation in the receptacle about a substantially horizontal axis so that the outer free edge portion of said blade during its oscillatory movement passes through regions nearer to the center of the receptacle than said axis and an unobstructed region is provided for a suflicient distance beyond the outer free edge portion of, said blade to furnish adequate space through which the clothes can readily pass, and said blade being of such shape and so disposed on said agitator that it promotes circulation of the clothes in one direction past the outer free edge portion of said blade from one side to the opposite side thereof during its oscillatory movement.

6. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 5, in which said receptacle comprises a bottom and an upstanding side wall and said agitator is mounted in said receptacle for oscillation about an axis which is horizontally disposed at or adjacent to the bottom and from which said blade projects upwardly during its oscillatory movement.

'7. In a washing machine, the combination of a receptacle for washing fluid and the clothes to be washed, an oscillatable agitator comprising an integral body of material including vane forming regions adapted to act on the clothes which extend lengthwise of the axis about which said agitator oscillates, mechanism for oscillating said agitator, said vane forming regions having outer free edge portions removed from said axis and being curved so as to define a convex-shaped surface at one face of said body and a concaveshaped surface at the opposite face of said body, said body including an axis forming region from the immediate vicinity of which said vane forming regions project laterally, said body being mounted for oscillation in the receptacle so that the outer free edge portions of said vane forming regions during oscillatory movement pass through regions nearer to the center of the receptacle than said axis and an unobstructed space is provided for a suflicient distance beyond such free outer edge portions to furnish adequate space through which clothes can readily pass, the shapeand disposition of said vane forming regions being such that the latter during oscillatory movement promote circulation of the clothes from the convex-shaped surface side of said body to the concave-shaped surface side thereof.

8. In a washing machine as set forth in claim '7, in which said vane forming regions are imperforate and merge with said axis forming region of said agitator body.

9. In a washing machine, the combination of a receptacle for washing fluid and the clothes to be washed, an oscillatable-agitator including a blade portion which is bent in transverse section, said agitator being so constructed and formed that said blade portion is unsymmetrically arranged thereon with respect to the axis about which said agitator oscillates, means for oscillating said agitator, said blade portion having an outer free edge removed from said axis, and said agitator being mounted for oscillation in the receptacle so that the outer free edge of said blade portion during its oscillatory movement passes through regions nearer to the center of the receptacle than said axis and an unobstructed space is provided for a sufficient distance beyond the outer free edge of said blade portion to furnish adequate space through which the clothes can readily pass.

10. In a washing machine, the combination of structure providing a receptacle for washing fluid and the clothes to be washed, said receptacle having a bottom and upstanding side wall, an agitator including blade forming means, means for mounting said agitator for oscillation in said receptacle about a horizontally extending axis at said bottom and from which said blade forming means projects upwardly during oscillatory movement thereof, and mechanism for oscillating said agitator, the distance from said axis to the outer extremity of said blade forming means being less than the vertical height from said axis to the top of said upstanding side wall.

11. In a washing machine, the combination of structure providing a receptacle for washing fluid and the clothes to be washed, said receptacle including an upstanding side wall and a bottom comprising an apertured upper member and a lower member spaced therefrom, the clothes to be washed being held in the space above said apertured member while the washing fluid can circulate between the spaces above and below said apertured member through the apertures therein, an agitator including blade forming means, means for mounting said agitator for oscillation in said receptacle about a horizontally extending axis at said apertured member and REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name 'Date Schatz Dec. 3, 1872 Number (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Head July 10, 1883 Gilman Feb. 8, 1887 V Sceets Feb. 19, 1895 Hoeglaver July 17, 1906 H01! July 22, 1929 Hersh June 16, 1931 Kirby Dec. 1, 1931 Number Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,491,080 December 13, 1949 TORD ERIK DANIEL BILDE It is hereb certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as fo ows:

In the drawing, strike out Figure 4 appearing at the bottom thereof;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiioe.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of July, A. D. 1950.

[sun] JOE E. DANIELS,

Assistant Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

